Happily-ever-after doesn’t come easy when two kids and a famously promiscuous ex are part of the equation…

Jen – I didn’t plan to stay single after my divorce. I would’ve liked to find someone special, but single moms aren’t exactly sought after, and since my ex dates enough for both of us, I owe it to our daughter to set a better example. And I did, for ten long years. Needless to say, I wasn’t expecting to meet someone, and I definitely wasn’t expecting that someone to turn my world upside down. But it’s not just my world that’s affected by the new man in my life, which means I may have to choose between my daughter’s happiness and my own.

Anthony – After my wife died, I swore I’d never put myself in a position to feel loss like that again. Besides, I could never replace the mother of my child. I never intended to break that promise, but my meddling son ruined my plans. Turns out, the kid’s a great matchmaker, but nothing is easy when teenagers are involved. Or the Internet. Now I’ve got to fight for the second chance I didn’t think I wanted, and prove to two very stubborn women that they should take a chance on me.

If you wanted more of Jen after Purely Novel Intent, now’s your chance to see how her happily-ever-after unfolds.

They say your true love should be your best friend. What happens if that person becomes your worst enemy?

Jason – I am drowning in happily ever after(s). My best friend and business partner, his brother, even my childhood neighbor, are all either engaged or married, making me the lone single guy in the group. I could live with that if I thought I’d find my own happily ever after, but she left my heart too damaged for that. And since she happens to be close with my partner’s new wife, I’m scared she’ll cost me my friends too. The worst part is, as much as I hate her for what she did to us, I think I still love her. Or the idea of her anyway.

Harper -My mother never recovered from a broken heart, which is why I swore never to fall in love. But I got careless. I let someone in, gave him my heart, and he ripped it out when he accused me of betraying him. I could’ve let it break me, but I refuse to give him the satisfaction, especially now that he’s back in my life. Unfortunately, seeing him again has unintended consequences, and now my carefully constructed façade is starting to crack. I’m scared to make myself vulnerable again, but I think I’m even more scared to live without him.

Sometimes you have to see yourself through someone else’s eyes to understand who you really are.

Colt – Life tackled me when I wasn’t looking. One minute I’m in the zone, preparing for what I hope will be another winning season, and the next I’m struggling to keep my focus on the game instead of the prim and proper beauty my agent hired to help me plan for life after football. Usually women flock to me, but this one I have to chase, and I can tell she won’t be easy to win. That doesn’t scare me. It terrifies me. I’ve disappointed every woman I’ve ever known by putting the game first, and now that I found something I want more than another ring, I’m not sure I’m man enough to win off the field.

Samantha – I’m no stranger to alpha males. In my line of work they come with the territory, and I’ve been around long enough to hold my own. That’s why the cocky football player with a reputation for scoring on and off the field is such a surprise. On the surface he’s the kind of guy who could ruin my credibility, but when he sets his focus on me, he lets me see the person behind the persona, and it’s someone I respect. Like even. I swore never to mix business with pleasure, but the perfectly imperfect ball player is hard to resist, which begs the question; is he worth breaking my one and only rule?

Is love any less real when it’s illicit?

Sawyer – I thought my life was over when my mom moved us in with her boyfriend, the father of the hottest guy in school. I mean, could there be a worse scenario than being forced to live across the hall from the object of your first major crush? Turns out there is. Falling in love with him and getting my heart broken was worse. As if once wasn’t enough, he’s back in my life, trying to do it again.

Wes – Senior year of high school, instead of living it up, enjoying those last few months with my friends and teammates, I pined away for the girl across the hall, who I absolutely couldn’t have. Aside from the fact that she was two years younger, she was my future stepsister. The ramifications were endless; disappointing our parents, being ridiculed at school, messing up my full ride. Did I mention she was my future stepsister? I knew it couldn’t work, but I tried anyway, and failed just as spectacularly as I predicted. I should have learned my lesson then. Guess I’m not as smart as I thought I was.

Emotional demons abound in this small-town, enemies-to-lovers romance by bestselling romance author Michele Lenard.

You don’t have to forget the past to live in the present.

Ryder – They say memories last forever, which is why I’m doing my best to drown them out. If I can’t remember them, they can’t hurt, right? That’s my theory, and I’ve done such a good job at proving it that I’ve landed myself in community service. No matter, I’ll just drown this out, too. Or I would, if my pesky new supervisor wasn’t lurking over me, thwarting me at every turn. Funny thing is, as much as she infuriates me, she’s the only thing I sort of want to remember.

Hailey – When my boss dumps a charity case in my lap, I can’t help but question whether he wants me to fail. After all, my job is hard enough without having to play babysitter, and I shouldn’t have to be responsible for a guy who’s given up on life. Especially not this one, who’s method of surrender could trigger the very people our mission helps. Then I learn why he’s given up, and against my better judgment, I start to wonder if there’s a way we can help each other. If the guy he’s buried deep is one I could actually like.   

Friends become lovers in this small-town romance by bestselling romance author, Michele Lenard.

What do you do when you realize the person you need most has been in front of you all along?

Tiff – Each day is more of the same. I smile and wave, playing the role of the bubbly girl next door the town expects me to be. But deep down, I’m suffocating under the weight of their perception. I don’t want to be the cheery good girl. I want to be adventurous. Reckless. Desired. When the town player moves in across the hall, I see my opportunity. I know he’s always up for a good time, and he’d have just as much incentive as me to keep things a secret.

Deacon – Relationships aren’t my thing, but I love women and they love me. That’s why I moved to this tiny ski town in Colorado. My cousin promised a veritable buffet of female tourists and assured me I’d never get bored. He was wrong though. Now that I’m the lone single guy among all our friends, I’m starting to see the appeal in having a girl. One girl. And I know the one I want. Too bad I wasn’t more discreet about my extracurricular activities, because now it’s unlikely she, or the town, will ever think I’m worthy of her. 

Coming October 22, 2024.

Competition is my love language.

The first time I saw Bennet Armstrong’s baby blues staring up at me from underneath his helmet, stunned and confused that I’d tackled him, I was smitten.

So, I tackled him again. And again. Whether he had the ball or not, I’d take him down, just so I could have his eyes on me.

I thought we were connecting. He thought I was a poor sport. Needless to say, when we found ourselves on the same team years later, he was not a happy camper. It got even worse when Coach paired us together for our pre-season workouts, giving me a chance to stoke his competitive buttons, which I seem to do whether I intend to or not.

Bennet hates to lose, but there’s more to the fire in his eyes than a desire to beat me. He might not know it, but I do, and I’m determined to show him I’m right.

To do that, I have to bring him to his knees, and that reveals some wounds I didn’t know were there. Wounds that are so deep they blind him to the truth about himself, and us.

I should leave him in peace, and maybe I would if I didn’t know in my soul that he’s supposed to be mine. Now I just need to convince him, and what better way to do that than by testing his desire to win?

**Beautifully Conflicted is a high-heat MM romance between two rivals turned lovers. It’s a medium angst story that includes sports, hurt/comfort situations, and a bi-awakening with lots of humor and spice. This is book three in a series of interconnected standalones.